Indoor Fireplace Tips

How do you stay warm during those harsh winter months? Do you hide out under a massive wool blanket with a cup of hot cocoa until the snow has melted? Hey, don't laugh; my eldest daughter does this. Or at least it seems like this is what she does. She's always shuffling around the house fluffy slippers on and a thick blanket draped around her shoulders. I prefer a slightly simpler approach. It's called an indoor fireplace. Yeah, you've surely come across this concept at some point or another. Heck, you may even have an indoor fireplace of your own. There are so many variations to pick and choose from now days, I really don't see how anyone can go wrong with this wonderful house-warming amenity.

I absolutely love an indoor fireplace. Now, just so I'm clear on the matter, I'm not referring to a new-age gas fireplace. Don't get me wrong. I can go on all day about how convenient these are and how enjoyable they can be during the cold season. However, I don't feel that they're quite what I'm looking for. I'm really into the old-school method of heating a home. Therefore when I mention an indoor fireplace, I am talking about wood-burning. Have you ever had the pleasure of dealing with a wood-burning indoor fireplace? It's gratifying on many levels. There's definitely a certain nostalgia to the process. You get to chop the firewood, stack it and prepare it for winter. You get to build and nurture a warm crackling flame each time you want to use it. Hey, you even get to routinely scoop out the ashes. Okay, well that's the only irksome part in my book. The rest of it I love. This of course pleases my wife as well. Although she is partial to a wood-burning indoor fireplace, she doesn't care for any of the work involved. That's okay, because I find it gratifying.

How do you choose which indoor fireplace concept is right for you? Well, I suggest you consider a few things. I already mentioned what is involved with a wood-burning fireplace. Now, with a gas indoor fireplace it's simpler. As long as your pilot light is lit, you only need to flip a switch and start your fireplace. Oh, and don't forget to pay that gas bill. Furthermore, you'll also want to consider the fact that a wood-burning fireplace works regardless of whether or not your power is out, and you can cook on it if you should need or want to. This is important to me when it comes to the indoor fireplace.